Astros manager Bo Porter spoke with the media for about 20 minutes Sunday prior to his team’s season-opener against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park.

Porter focused the attention on his rebuilding team and went out of his way to praise rightfielder Brandon Barnes, who earned a starting role for the first game of the 2013 MLB season.

As a reward for Barnes’ opening-night spot, Porter had the 26-year-old speak to his teammates Saturday.

“He loved the whole philosophy of ‘Ignore the noise’ and he’s done it his entire life,” Porter said.

Notes

Astros veteran Rick Ankiel is still the team’s primary rightfielder. Barnes was given the spot Sunday because of hitting matchups.

Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez (oblique) said he expects to return to action as soon as his 15-day disabled-list stint is over. Martinez was placed on the DL Saturday. The move was backdated to March 27.

More than 100 of Porter’s friends and family members are expected to attend Sunday’s game. Former Iowa football coach Hayden Fry wasn’t able to make the game. However, a large group of ex-Hawkeyes football teammates of Porter’s are in attendance.

While talking about being “All in” with the Astros, Porter voluntarily displayed a T-shirt that sported the phrase.

After referring to Florida Gulf Coast last week when discussing the Astros defying low expectations, Porter brought up Final Four-bound Wichita State on Sunday.

Porter sped-walk around Minute Maid Park’s field about six hours before the opening pitch. He plans to either walk around the field or up stadium steps before every game as a way to stay in shape and relax his mind.